How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
– George Washington Carver
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 (DAYS 715 – 727)
Having the opportunity to travel to several of the islands in Southest Asia, there is one that particularly stands head and shoulders above the rest thanks in large part to the absence of large touristic crowds, high-rise resorts occupying beach front views, motorized vehicles on the island, and the abundance of secluded beaches and scenic nature trails. Cambodia’s second largest island, Koh Rong, is a hidden gem to most, but seems to be well known among the backpacking community of travelers. Also known as Monkey Island, this small piece of paradise rests only 25km south of the Sihanoukville coast in the southern part of the country. The eastern side of the island is the most developed area, and even as I use the term “developed,” this section only consists of a single pedestrian walkway in the sand that is flanked by both the shoreline and the front of shops, restaurants, and guesthouses lining the beach. While white sandy beaches are abundant as they are contrasted by the natural scenic landscapes, the opposite side of the island, known as Sunset Beach, is the truly magnificent and breathtaking spectacle as to why the island is far above any others in the region. A 7km long stretch of beach that is absent of high-rise resorts and hordes of tourists makes this a serene spot indeed, where relaxation and even moments of silent reflection conjures up many thoughts as though the rest of the world is at a stand-still. Truly a must-visit for anyone that travels to Cambodia when escaping the noise and bustle of the city-life of Phnom Penh and the large tour crowds of Angkor Wat.
Having the opportunity to travel to several of the islands in Southest Asia, there is one that particularly stands head and shoulders above the rest thanks in large part to the absence of large touristic crowds, high-rise resorts occupying beach front views, motorized vehicles on the island, and the abundance of secluded beaches and scenic nature trails. Cambodia’s second largest island, Koh Rong, is a hidden gem to most, but seems to be well known among the backpacking community of travelers. Also known as Monkey Island, this small piece of paradise rests only 25km south of the Sihanoukville coast in the southern part of the country. The eastern side of the island is the most developed area, and even as I use the term “developed,” this section only consists of a single pedestrian walkway in the sand that is flanked by both the shoreline and the front of shops, restaurants, and guesthouses lining the beach. While white sandy beaches are abundant as they are contrasted by the natural scenic landscapes, the opposite side of the island, known as Sunset Beach, is the truly magnificent and breathtaking spectacle as to why the island is far above any others in the region. A 7km long stretch of beach that is absent of high-rise resorts and hordes of tourists makes this a serene spot indeed, where relaxation and even moments of silent reflection conjures up many thoughts as though the rest of the world is at a stand-still. Truly a must-visit for anyone that travels to Cambodia when escaping the noise and bustle of the city-life of Phnom Penh and the large tour crowds of Angkor Wat.
The weary side of backpacking
MY PERSONAL RTW EXPERIENCE
Preparing for another 12-hour overnight bus ride from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville I am waiting with my current travel partner, Iris from Austria. We are told to be ready for pick up at 6pm outside of the guesthouse, but in typical fashion we are not picked up for another hour. Just after 7:30pm we are depart on the overnight bus where sleep is sporadic if not absent all together. I will apologize once more as I’ve fallen behind on blogging due to a variation of circumstances while living the life of a backpacker and while several of these blogs may be quite short I hope to get back on track shortly and write in more thorough detail of my experiences.
Preparing for another 12-hour overnight bus ride from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville I am waiting with my current travel partner, Iris from Austria. We are told to be ready for pick up at 6pm outside of the guesthouse, but in typical fashion we are not picked up for another hour. Just after 7:30pm we are depart on the overnight bus where sleep is sporadic if not absent all together. I will apologize once more as I’ve fallen behind on blogging due to a variation of circumstances while living the life of a backpacker and while several of these blogs may be quite short I hope to get back on track shortly and write in more thorough detail of my experiences.
Arriving in the early morning at the bus terminal in Sihanoukville
The bus pulls in to the dirt lot of the Sihanoukville bus terminal just after sunrise as I pull myself up from the contorted position I’ve found myself in to gather a few hours of sleep. The weather is a bit cool but this only lasts a short time as the sun is quickly causing the temperature to rise.
$2 dorm at Utopia Hostel in Sihanoukville
After a short tuk tuk ride that is shared between several of us to Utopia Hostel, they have the cheapest dorms I have seen in my travels thus far. Unfortunately the $1 a night dorms are full so we have opted for the upgraded lavish $2 dorms which as you can see are thin foam mats that leave little privacy or comfort, but when sleep quarters are this cheap and you are not spending any significant time in the room it tends to work well for budget travel.
Local kids playing on the beach in Sihanoukville
After settling in and grabbing a quick shower, it’s a short two-minute walk to the beach. Amid the beautiful setting, there is dark-undertone that exists unfortunately in the form of middle-aged men seemingly traveling alone, but often eyeing young children. The disgusting group of sex-tourism, I found, was most prominent in Sihanoukville along the many restaurants and beach loungers along the beach. It was extremely difficult to see and caused my stomach to turn as I noticed these individuals on display without much remorse for their long stares. Even as I sat and tried to enjoy the culture of this new area, I was afraid that a physical confrontation might soon occur if I were to witness one of these lurking predators engaging with a young child. It seemed as though some of the public actions were not as obvious, but when making direct eye-contact with many of these perverts you could sense what their true intentions were.
The ferry boat to Koh Rong $20 round trip
Departing the small beach town of Sihanoukville for Koh Rong, I was glad to get away from these specific types of travelers. And, while it seems as though it’s turning a blind eye it’s both difficult and dangerous in these situations, because when you are unfamiliar with the language and culture as well as the local laws of a particular region (not as an entire country) most times territories are controlled by mafia-style groups and disturbing their so-called business can be something that can cost you your life. And I felt that possibly the longer I spent in this environment would have increased my chances of having a full blown confrontation with one or several of these individuals. The constant reminder that this is not the United States, nor even a first world country, and many of the things that occur are some of the gravest of travesties that some may be able to handle better than I.
Aboard the 2-hour slow boat journey to Koh Rong
The two-hour slow boat ride provides with calm waters, blue skies, and the gentle breeze of the warm salty air.
Koh Rong a true backpackers destination
I tend to nod off a bit from the relaxed vibration of the ocean voyage and this seems to be an occurring theme even below us where much of the luggage and cargo is stored.
The main "street" on Koh Rong Island
Upon first arrival at Koh Rong, the pace of life slows to that of island life and there is no rush in the aimless wondering and exploring of the small island.
Sunset from the beach in Sihanoukville
Since I had applied for my visa for Vietnam through the consulate office in Sihanoukville, I knew that I would not be allowed to leave Cambodia until the date of entry that I had submitted, which was April 3, 2014. This is one of the balancing acts of traveling SEA always paying close attention to the allotted time one is permitted to stay within a country on a tourist visa and even though I had made plans with my friend from Austria to spend a few days in Kampot before departing Cambodia, it never ceases to amaze me in the beauty of the world that surrounds me.
A view overlooking the Teuk Chhou River in Kampot, Cambodia
Kampot is a small sleepy riverside town just a few kilometers from the Gulf of Thailand and a short distance to Vietnam. It is the last stop before leaving Cambodia and a great place to relax before another long overnight bus that includes the overland border crossing at Ha Tien.
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